Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen's abrupt resignation over 'personal conduct' investigation sparks speculation

Rodney McMullen has resigned as the CEO of Kroger following an investigation into his 'personal conduct.'(REUTERS)

Kroger Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen’s abrupt resignation after an internal investigation into his personal conduct has sparked a huge buzz online. Kroger, the largest grocery chain in the US, said on Monday that the investigation into McMullen's personal conduct was unrelated to the business. However, his conduct was found to be inconsistent with its business ethics policy.

The conduct is not related to financial performance, operations or reporting, and it did not involve any Kroger associates, the company said, according to news agency Reuters.

Speculation galore

The abrupt resignation, coupled with the fact that McMullen, 64, will not receive his 2024 bonus, has sparked speculation on the exact nature of the investigation.

On X and Reddit, the two most influential platforms for shaping public opinion, rumours are rife about what exactly Rodney McMullen did to get pushed out from the company he led for over a decade.